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JOHN O.- OOU'OH, OF MIDDLEFIELD, CONNECTICUT.

Letters Patent No. 78,651, dated Jt'me 9, 1868:

IMPROVE) CLOTHES-PIN.

'TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONOERN:

Be it known that I, JOHN O. OoUcH, of Middlefield, in the county of Middlesex, inthe State of -Connectieut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Olotlies-Pins;' and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

I'will first proceed to describe what I consider the best means of carrying out my invention, and will afterwards designate the point which I believe to benew.

The accompanying drawings form a part of -this speciiication.

Figure 1 is a side view of the clothes-pin complete, whennot in use.

Figure 2 represents the same pin when in use, and onthe line. The clothesline, anda portion of' the clothing adjacent thereto, are shown in cross-section. i v u i Figure 3 is an edge view of my improved pin.

Similar letters of reference indicate like yparts in all the figures.

I can form the main-part of pinl of a singlepieceof stiff iron wire, galvanized or tinned. I bend the wire in asuitable forno;` either by machinery or by hand, and adapt it to vreceivea.rubber ring, which aids in its elastic compression uponA the clothes.. I will designate the several parts of my wire A1, A2, &c.

A1 A2 are the turned-edt ends ot' lthe wire. 'l i 'A3 A" are swellis or slight bends, which adapt it to embrace more perfectly the clothes-line, and the clothes suspended thereon. A A5 A6 arehollows or bends, which are adapted to reeeiveand keop in place the ring of rubber, B, which may be simplya shortlcngth cut from a vulcanized-rubber tube.

A7 As are large swells, which form, infact, the sides of a capacious loop or ring, which 'I prefer -to elongate in the direction of the length ofthe pin, forming a moderately-short band or a curve of short radius at the top, as indicated by A. i i

The wire having been bent in the proper form, may have a tendency of itself alone to springtogether with considerable force, but this elastici-ty, if such it possesses, is greatlyvincreased bythe pressure ot'z'band B, which v performs the triple' function of aiding the wire in springing together, keeping the parts from passing each other,

and keeping them approximately in line, and by preventing the pin from being thrust down too far upon the clothesline and. clothes. On thrusting down the pin with great force upon the clothes-line and clothesit is arrested by the band B when it arrives at the right position. l

My pin may be sprung open with the hands on applying it to very delicate fabrics, and 'the same may be lone ou removing it, when in any case there is anticipated danger of injury to the goods, as, kfor example, when it'is used to eonne delicate laces; bpt in all -ordinary cases the pin may be thrust down in applying it, and pulled oit in removing it, without any'such precaution.

i' I prefer to preparethe wire by tinning, or galvanizing, or otherwise plating it, after it has been cut off in the proper lengths, and thisioperat-ion insures that the ends, as well as all the other surfaces, shall be properly coated. It may be well, in most cases, to bend or partially bend the wire-into the proper form before it is subjected to the coating process. l

I do not confine myself -to hard iron wire, coated, as the material furthe part A1, A2, fte. Springs of hard brass may be used, without coating; so may various other materials. Steel or semi-steel, variously prepared, may be used, and in some cases it may be expedient tdicoat the material with silver, or in other expensive and.

attractive ways. Also, it is not absolutely essential that the'band B should be made of vulcanized India rubber. Ordinary rubber, unvulcanized, may serve well in some'instanees. So might rubber cloth, gutta perche, and various compounds, it being simply important that it perform the duties above described without liability to smut or otherwise injure the clothes, or to b'e itself destroyed by ordinary atmospheric iutluences.

The large ring, A9 A A", is adapted to serve both as a spring, vto give elasticity to the parts below, and also as a convenient means of allowing the carrying a considerable number of my clothes-pins on a linger or thumb, in the act of hanging out or taking in clothes.

Having now fully described my invention, what IV claim as new,` and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is Aas follows:

I claim the employment of a rulber or elastic compound ixi combination with a, metallic elothes-pin, made as herein described, andv adapted to operate therewith, as and for the prpos'es herein set forth.

-In testimohy whereof', I have'lle'reunto set my nainein presence of two eilbscribingvwitnesses.

JOHN O. COUCH.

'Witnesses W. C. DEY, C. C. LIVINGS. 

